The Significance of Cyber Safety in the Moravian-Silesian Region (2. strana)

BUSINESS Mr Vondrák, the Moravian-Silesian Region has a reputation as a leader in the introduction and support of new technologies. Are there some particular projects to support innovation in industry? In order to support the development of innovations and enterprise in the region, the Government of the Moravian-Silesian Region, the Council of Ostrava and the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre (Moravskoslezské inovační centrum Ostrava, MSIC) have prepared the Regional Innovation Strategy including, among other things, a subsidy programme to small- and mid-sized enterprise in the region. The regional government will distribute vouchers totalling thirteen million CZK among both starting as well as established entrepreneurs. The sum is by five million higher than the year before, when fifty-four projects applied for the vouchers, twenty-two of which have already been allocated. The Start Up Voucher was granted to Dustee Technologies, whose smart dust-measuring device had already won considerable attention in the finals of the Smart Idea (Chytrá myšlenka) contest. I am convinced that this year’s project will help many talented entrepreneurs too. It was a real lucky strike two years ago when we together with the Council of Ostrava, and local universities founded the MSIC. MSIC is a marvellous background to talented people who do not hesitate with brave ideas and visions. It provides ideal room to develop all kinds of innovation and business plans. Can you tell how many companies MSIC has already helped? MSIC offers various services, some of them well-established, some in their pilot season. The programme MSIC Expand has already assisted approximately forty small- and mid-sized companies in implementing changes, which will either help them grow or finish a new product to be introduced on the market. MSIC cooperates with a great number of companies which need brief consultations or take part in events organized by MSIC, where networking and sharing information brings new contacts, business collaboration and development of enterprise. In the first year, the premises of MSIC allowed research and development room to a few companies operating in the automotive industry, which in turn will have a positive effect on the foundation and development of other new innovation companies, and will definitely contribute to the good reputation of the Moravian-Silesian Region. MSIC also tests new programmes to enhance starting businesses of “beginner entrepreneurs”, and to service the needs of existing companies in product design or in financing highly qualified experts. Well-balanced development of the region needs revitalization of the “post-mining” landscape. Is it real? What opportunities does post-industrial Ostrava offer? The area marked by cities of Karviná, Havířov, and Orlová is seriously damaged by coal mining. The Government of the Moravian-Silesian Region keeps searching for new functions of this “land of ghosts”. To produce a systematic and conceptual solution of the post-mining landscape of the District of Karviná, the project “POHO2030 – the Concept of the Development of the Post-Mining Landscape of the Karviná District up to 2030” was initiated. The area still feels most unsatisfactory, and I see it as a great challenge for the regional government to invent a new useful purpose for it. The area has huge potential and is most suitable for the implementation of progressive technologies and innovations. I believe that in cooperation with our partners we will succeed in creating a prosperous area with varied and sustainable life. By 2030 we want the post-mining area to be a land “in motion”, with fresh energy, with maximum usage of smart solutions. We hope the District of Karviná will become an attractive location which will provide for further economic development of the region, and will also offer interesting leisure activities. I am sure that it will draw the attention of people with vision and inspire other regions. This is a very ambitious project which must be a great financial challenge. The Government of the Moravian-Silesian Region has the finance put aside to prepare the full concept, and is ready for further financial support. Financing particular projects will mostly depend on the owners of estates in this area. We want to benefit from the EU being also interested in the revitalization of the landscape affected by coalmining, therefore we have already started the preparation of a large-scale integrated project to apply to the Community Programme LIFE. This programme may provide us with up to ten million euros for ten years. The project has been presented to the Minister of the Environment, Mr Richard Brabec, and I am convinced that the ministry will become a supportive partner of our project. We will be happy to have more regional partners engaged in the project, whom we are going to address soon. The project LIFE represents a huge opportunity for our region and we definitely do not want to miss the chance. As a rector, you initiated the project of the so-called supercomputing centre, providing data service to industries as well. How important is data protection, and what do you do to facilitate such protection? In the Moravian-Silesian Region there are numerous opportunities to develop the concept of Industry 4.0, including the brilliant combination of industrial know-how and innovative enterprise. This development is natural in the automotive industry; universities are getting ready as well as are other enterprises; and public administration too can see its future is in digitization and the automation of administrative procedures. The Government of the Moravian-Silesian Region is the first in our country to have their own software robot, and has taken many steps toward the further digitization of its agenda and internal processes this year. Sure, increasing digitization requires better attention paid to the protection of the data administered by the institution. That is why the existing system managing the data safety was enhanced so as to match the requirements of the international norm ISO 27001. This June the government of the region successfully passed the data safety certification. Citizens of the region can be assured that all the information and data the governments Text a foto: procures are well secured. Thank you for the interview. Moravskoslezský kraj www.msk.cz POSITIV 3/2019 ǀ 21